Metal-perforating machine



Jan. 26 1926.

- G. P. THOMAS METAL PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 2e, 'r sheets-sheet 1 Il QI 5. l w W w Jan. 26 1926.

I G. P. THOMAS METAL PERFORATING MACIIZINEl Filed June 26, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l/VVENTR .MTE-h.

G. P. THOMAS METAL PERFORATING MACHINE Jan. 26 1926.

Filed June 26, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 mlm vm.

W/T/VESSES Jan. 26 1926. G. P. THOMAS METAL PERFORMING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Shaq?, 4

Filed June 26, 1924 IIUI Jan. 26 1926.

G. P. THOMAS METAL PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 26 1926.

G. F'. THOMAS METAL PERFRATING MACHINE Filed June 26s, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 mim.

Jan. 26 1926.

G. P. THOMAS METAL PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Jan. 26;..1926.

carrbsi'ms GEORGE P. THOMAS, E GEENSHAW, PENNSYLVANIA.

METAL-PIERFORATING MACHINE.

applicati@ mea-'June 2a um. serial no. 722,447.

To all whom t may concern.' p

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Glenshaw, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have in-y vented a new and useful Improvement in: vMetal-Perforating Machines, of which the following is a specification. ."The invention relates to machines for "punching or otherwise perforating metal blanks, such as structural steel plates and shapes. While some of the features of the invention are applicable to various types of punching machines, others are particularly applicable tothe general type of machines inv which a templet and work support is arranged for universal movements in a horizontal plane with relation to a perforating machine, .and in which an index finger or 2 linder pin kis arranged to cooperate with a templet borne by the support tol properly position a blank for perforating it.

An object ofthe invention is to improve the construction of universally movable templet and work supports of this type,

to the Aend that they may be readily movedl I to re uired positions regardless of the size and s apes of blanks being perforated, and to the further end vthat the handling of blanks may be facilitated both before and after they are perforated.

A A further object is to provide improved mechanism for manually moving universally movable templet and work supports, to the end that they may be easily and quickly moved'regardless of the size andvcharacter ofthe blanks being perforated.

A further object is to provide a machine 'of this general type with automatic means operated by power mechanism to move a work support to bring. a blank lto proper punching position after the support has been otherwise brought close' to such position.

A further and more specific object is to provide-a machine of this general type with anderpin adapted to rest freely on a templet, an with power operated mechanism for forcing the pin into a templet perforation after the pin has partially entered the perforation, the further entry of the pin being effective to properly position or center w and a movable v work and templet support.

a blank for punching.

lelevation ofthe machine, certain l of view The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 'is an parts of the perforating machine and finder pm mechanism being omitted for simplicity of illustration; Fig. 2 a plan view of the machine shown in Fig.` 1; Fig. 3 a plan view to enlarged scale of the central portion of the machine shown lin Figs. land 2, the perforating machine andlinder pin mechanism, and the connections between them, being shown in thisy view; Fig. 4 a vertical sectionaly view to a lstill larger scale ofv the central portions of the machine, the plane elingl indicated by the line IV-IV, Fig. 3;,Fig. 5a sectional view of a detail of construction taken on theplane indicated by the line V-V, Fig. 6; Fig. 6 a side view -of a perforating machine, in this instance a punch, thevside view being combined with a transverse sectional view of the work support, the plane of view being indicated by the line VI-VI, Fig. 3; Fig. 7 a vertical ,sectional view taken on thehne VII-VII, Fig. 3; Fig. 8 an enlargement of a part of the left hand ortion of the work and templet support illustrated. in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a vertical sectional view taken on the line IX-IX, Fig. 8; Fig. 10 a vertical central sectional viewlof a finder pincombined with "an elevation of parts attached to it; Fig.

11'an elevation of the rfinder pin shown in Fig. 10, the view bein taken at right angles to Fig. 10, and inclu ing, part in elevation and part in section, an additional connection to the finder pin, the sectional portion of the additional connection -being taken onthe `line XI-XI, Fig. 12; Fi 412l a view taken on the plane indicated by t eline XII-XII, Fig. 11; Fig. y13 a sectional 'view of the carriage clamp at the .left endoflthe machine, the planeof viewbeingl indicated -by the line XIII-XIII, Fig. 2; lFig. 14 a plan :View of the clamp shown` in Fig. 13j; Fig. .15 ar viewjtaken substantially` on the line XV-.XV, Fig. v3, illustrating ya detail of clutch-control mechanism; and., Fig. v16 a wiring diagram of certain electrically controlled parts of theentire machine.

The machine l rovided according to vthis invention includles a perforating machine The perforating machine may be, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention is, a metal punch provided with a reciprocating head and with a clutch for controlling its reciprocation. As far as concerns some features of the invention, the work and templet support may be variously constructed and operated. However, in the preferred embodiment it is of the type which is universally movable in a horizontal plane with relation to a perforating machine.

One feature of the invention vhas to do with the construction of universally movable work and templet supports. They have in some instances heretofore been formed by mounting upon a stationary table an intermediate frame arranged to move to and from a punch, and by mounting upon the intermediate frame a top frame or carriage for movements at right angles to those of the intermediate frame. In such work and templet supports a plate to be unched is arranged in and clamped to t e top frame; and, when the work support is constructed to receive large plates, rollers are carried by the intermediate frame and are springpressed upwardly a ainst the lower face of a plate carried by tie top frame. This arrangement of rollers has been found to be objectionable for several reasons. For example, to effectively support a large plate the spring pressure upon the rollers must be so great that it is difficult, upon required movements of the top frame, for the essential members of it to depress the rollers sufficiently to permitv such movements. Also, when a plate to be punched has an edge inclined to the general rectangular edges of the plate, such edge, when the top frame is moved, wedges against the side of a roller which is spring-pressed above the plane of the plate, thus making it impossible to further move the top frame without manually depressing the so wedged roller. Of course,.

this retards the punching operation. Furthermore, when a plate is supported within a frame it is necessary to bodily lift the plate for placing it in an removing it from the frame.

To overcome these and other objectionable features of universally movable templet and work supports, is one of the specific objects of this invention', 'accordin to which an elongate carriage is mounte upon a side of the intermediate frame and is provided with a plurality of clamps for engaging one side of a blank and of a templet, both of which otherwise rest freely upon rollers carried by the intermediate frame. Each of these rollers preferabl extends as a unit from one side to the ot 1er of the frame. By providing a carriage of this type and mounting it .on the sideof an intermediate frame, none of the parts of the carriage extends over the rollers of the intermediate frame, and

hence there is no interference of the sort explained above. A further advantage is that blanks may be moved to and from the carriage sidewise upon the intermediate frame rollers without lifting the blanks upwardly to place them in or remove them from a frame.

Having reference to the illustrative em- `\bodiment of this feature of the invention,

and referring'first to Figs. 1 and 2, the sta* tionary table may comprise a plurality of standards 1. Tracks 2, which may be in the form of angles, may be arranged upon the tops of standards 1 to receive rollers 3 borre by an intermediate frame 4, so that sufz frame may be moved to and from a perforating machine, such as a punch 5. Preferably, the tracks 2 on the standards at the ends of the stationary table have convex faces for receiving and guiding grooved'en'd rolls 3, and the tracks on all intermediate standards have plane faces on which cylin drical frame rolls 3 rest. By thus using plane-faced tracks 2 and cylindrical rolls intermediate the ends of the work support, these tracks need not be aligned with great cxactness in relation to the intermediate` rolls, the frame being held in proper alignment by the end rolls and tracks.

For supporting a blank to be unched, such as a plate 6, frame 4 is provi ed with a plurality of idle rollers 7, which preferably extend continuously from one side to the other of the frame. With the exception of the blank-supporting rollers 7a (Fig. 4f adjacent to the punching machine 5, the rollers for supporting a plate 6 remain in fixed positions in frame 4. In other word they are not urged upwardly against a plate.

To move a blank upwardly at the end o',- i

each punching operation so that such buras may be formed on its lower face may bfy disengaged from a die, rollers 7 adjacent to the punching machine may be urged upwardly by means of springs 8 surrounding rods 9 attached to one end of pivoted arms 10, the rollers being rotatably borne by the other end of these arms. Furthermore, rollers 7b adjacent to the finder pin mechanism presently to be explained, are preferably mounted in vertically adjustable housings so that the finder piu mechanism may )roperly cooperate with templcts of di erent thicknesses. As shown in Fig. 4,. the bearing blocks at the ends of rolls 7 may be mounted for vertical adjustment in housings 11 supported by adjusting screws 19.

Upon one side of frame 4 there is mounted for movements at right, angles to that of the frame a carriage 13 provided with means for engaging a side of a blank 6 and a telnplet 63, both of which rest freely upon rollers 7. The lower side of this carriage may be provided with rails 14 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) adapted to restl upon grooved idle rollers l' borne l .frame 4, so as to permit free movement o t he carriage upon the frame. Any suitable form of clamps may be used for attaching a blank and a tem let to the earriagc. As shown in Fig. 8 t ic clamps ma comprise a pair of jaws 16 ivoted to e ac other as at 17 and. attache to a resilient plate 19. That the clamps maybe moved to various positions upon the carriage to engage different sized blanks and templets,

' each clamp late 19 may be attached to the carriage by olts 20 having their heads arranged in a continuous T-slot formed in the upper face of the carriage.

For punching some classes of work, as for example screen plates which are provided with a reat many holes, thejpunching of which e ongates the plate, it is desirable to permit one blank-engaging clamp to move with relation to the carriage to-compensate for this elongation ofthe plate. For this purpose one blank-engagin clamp, preferably the rear one, may, as s iown in Figs. 13 and 14, be loosely secured to the carriage by a bolt 20* the nut of which is not tightened. The movement of this clamp upon the carriage may be facilitated by providing the clamp with rollers 21 (Fig. 13) adapted to bear against vertical faces of a part of the carriage.

A By providing a carriage having the characteristics of that just explained, a plate attached to it may be freely and properly supported upon the frame rollers7 in such a manner that movementsof the carriage u on the frame may be effected without inter erence between' the rollers and plate. Also the rollers need not be depressed by parts of the carriage. Furthermore, a l plate to be punched may be slid laterally upon rollers 7 and similarly removed from them, thus eliminating the necessity of lifting the plate for placing it iii and removing it from at frame of the general type heretofore used in universally movable workand templet s upports Another feat/ure of the invention has todo with means for moving the frame upon the table and the carriage upon the frame. Custoiilarily, the movements of both the carriage and frame are etl'ected manually by a workman who, foi' this purpose, directly engages the carriage. WVhen a long carriage is provided, capable of having long plates attached to it, it is diflicult. toinove a frame to and fi-oni a punch when a workman manipulates the carriage, as he `necessarily must, at a position near one end of the frame. The reason for this is that pushing or pulling upon one end of the frame causes it to bind upon the stationary table sup orts. x

In the practice of this feature .of the invention mechanical driving connections are provided, not only for movingl the. frame upon the table, but also for moving the Acarcent toeach other and tothe fin For this according to the arrangement riage'upon the franieyund operating ineml bers for such connections are adjacentl y'disposed so that both may he conveniently manpulated by a singe workman while stan ing in one position. These are preferably rack and pinion connections. Rcferring to the illustrative embodiment of this feature of the invention, the rack and pinion connections for moving the frame u )on the table referably comprise a rotatab e shaft 22 (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted upon, and extending substantially the full length of, the front side of frame 4. The ends of this shaft are provided with pinions 23 adapted to mesh with racks 24 mounted upon the end standards 1 of the table. As seen particularly in Fig. 8, the rotation of shaft 22 may be effected by means of a hand wheel 25 attached to a shaft 26 provided with a beveled pinion 27 meshing with a bevel pinion 28 attached to shaft 22.v

For movingk the carriage upon the frame. the former is preferably provided with a rack 29.(Figs. 8 and 9), which may be attached to the outside edge of the carriage and may be engaged by a pinion 30 attached to a shaft 3l rovided with a hand wheel 32 arranged adjacent to the hand wheel 25.

These hand wheels are in such ositioii adjaer pin mecha-l Observing the nism that a workman,'while engage one by finder pin and templet, may

-each hand to effect, through the rack and pin-y ion connections explained, desired movements of the frame upon the table and the carriage upon the frame. If desired, a platform 33 for a Workman to stand upon may be suspended from frame 4 by supports 35 in the manner generally illustrated in Fig. `7.

A further and the most important feature of the invention has to do with the provision of means for automatically placing or centering a blank inv proper punching position after the work support has been` moved, as for example by the rack and piiiion driving connections just explained, so

as to bring a blank close to such position.

purpose there is provided powei" mechanism adapted to cooperate 'with a templct to move it, and through it t0 move the work support and blank attached to it,

to bring thev blank to proper punching positioii.v Preferably, this is effected by providing a finder or index pin arranged to bear freely upon 'a face of a tcnipletV perforated and spacing of holes to be punched in a blank; and providing means, rendered effective by partial entry of the` pin into a teinplet for forcing the pin further-'into tion to move the work sup Jort. The templet perforation may be cylindlrical andthe finder pin be provided with a'` tapered end, so that when the end of the pin partially enters a perfoationthe power mechanism for perforation, the'perfor. l

" ceiving conntersunk rivets. 4Preferably, the

forcing the pin l'nrlher into the perforation will cause the tapered side of the pinto bear upon the side of the perforation and move the work support. If desired, the perforations nuiy have beveled edges, or In other words he in the usual forni of holes for refinder pin is arranged above. the templet with its cnil bearing upon its upper face, and preferably also the finder pin is mounted for longitudinal movements towards and from the templet.

'lhe power mechanism for the final positioning or centering of a blank is preferably the means for throwing or releasing a clutch lo place the perforating machine in operation. suitable driving connections being arranged between such controlling means and the finder pin or its equivalent. The clutchthrowing means is preferably an electroinagnet adapted to be energized by an electric current flowing through a circuit which may be closed by and upon the partial entry of the finder pin into a templet perforation. By such instrumentalities the energizing of the magnet causes its movable element, preferably an armature, to both control the clutch and force the finder pin further into a perforation to center the work.

Since in the preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention the finder pin mechanism is coordinated with the punching machine, the general construction of the latter will first be explained. As shown in Fig. 6, the punch 5 includes a rotatable driven shaft 36 for effecting in the usual manner the reciprocation of a punching head 37, which is shown in Fig. 4 as being provided with two punches 38 and 39, although it may be equipped with any desired number of punches. The rotation of shaft 36 to reciprocate the punching head is controlled by means of a clutch, which may be of standard and well known construction including a movable element 40 feathered upon shaft 16 nd adapted to engage a second element 4l attached to the hub of a gear 42 rotatably mounted on shaft 36 and driven by a motor 43 through the connections illustrated.

Normally clutch element 40 is yieldingly urged towards its cooperatingV element 41 hv springs 44 (Figs. 6 and 15) acting through bell-crank levers 45 and pins 46 attached to them and engaging clutch element 40. A pin 47, adapted to engage a cam 48 ai tai-hed to clutch element 46, holds Such element against engagement with its cooperatinf; element 41. This pin is pivotally mounted on the end of an arm 49 which is attached to a sha-ft 50 which may be rocked to release pin 47 from its engagement with cam 48. For so rocking shaft 50, it has attached to it an arm 51 which may be connected by a link 52, a pivoted lever 53, and a rod 54, to a movable armature 55 forming part of an electro-magnet including a coil 56. Through these instrumentalities the energizing of coil 56 of the electro-magnet causes its armature 55 to move upwardly, and in consequence thereof pin 47 is releasedfroln clutch member 40 through 'the connections ]ust explained.

Rod 54 is also connected, through a bellcrank lever 57z a link 58 and an arm 59 to a shaft 60 which extends to the -finder-pin mechanism for a purpose presently to be explained. The connection of bell-crank 1ever 57 to rod 54 may be through a slot 6l so that such rod may move downwardly as soon as the magnet is deenergized and thus permit clutch pin 47 to rise and engage clutch cam 48 so that the continued rotation of shaft 36 may, at the proper time and through such cam and pin, remove clutch element 40 from its engagement with clutch element 41.

Having reference now to the finder-pin mechanism, it is mounted upon a frame 62 which overhangs the perforated templet 63 supported by rollers 7. As seen particularly in Figs. 10 and 11` a finder pin 64 is mounted for longitudinal movements in frame o2 with its lower end resting freely on the templet. In Fig. 10 the lower end of the inder pin is shown as being tapered to cooperate with cylindrical perforations 65 in templet 63, and in Fig. 11 the finder in is shown as having a rather blunt end a apted to coopcrate with beveled edged perforations 65a in the templet. Attached to the finder pin, and movable with it, there is an electric contactor 66 adapted to contact with a fixed contactor 67 when the lower end of the finder pin has partially entered a perforation 65, such entry of the finder pin in a perforation taking place when the work support has been moved to a position to bring the perforation into partial registry with the finder pin. Contactor 67 is attached to a bracket 68 which in turn is attached to a side of frame 62. As seen in Fig. 16, contactors 66 and 67 are connected, respectively, to conductors 69 and 70 which form part of an electric circuit through electro-magnet coil 56.

Surrounding finder pin 64 there is a sleeve 71 through which the finder pin may freely move, and which is pivoted to an arm 72, rotatably mounted on shaft 60. Forming a part of arm 72 there is a vertically disposed arm 73 which carries for longitudinal move nient in it a pin 74 attached to an arm 75 which is keyed to shaft 60. Arranged between arm 73 and a tension-adjusting nut 76 on pin 74 there is a spring 77 which acts to hold arm 73 and 75 in the position indicated in Fig. 11.

With such nder pin mechanism, an operator may move the work support until the end of the pin partially enters a templet per foration, and such movement of the support 6, into proper punching position.

. sleeve 'F1 its lower ed e engages the shoulder formed on pin 64 an forces the pin further into the templet perforation, causing the templet to move into exact registration with the pin. Such movement of the templetA causes the work-support to correspondingly move to bring the work, that is to sa plate 1s is done simultaneously with the downward movement of reciprocating punch head 37 and before the plate 6.

Injury to the connections for forcin the finder in downwardly, in case the circuit throng i lthe magnet coil should be closed punches attached to it engage when the end of the finder pin rests upon the templet/rather than being artially in v a templet perforation, is avoi ed by the yielding connection between shaft 60 and arm 72, which connection is illustrated particularly in Fig. 11. The normal compression u on spring 77 effected by the position o nut 76 on pin 74 is such that the spring will not normally be further compressed by the forcingof the finder pin into a templet perforation, but will be compressed in. case the electro-niagnct turns shaft 60 when the lower end of the finder pin rests upon an unperforated portion of' the face of the templet. Not only does this yielding connection prevent injury to the finder pinv driving connections, but prevents the finder pin from perforating the templet under the conditions just explained.

Means are rovided for withdrawing the finder pin rom a templet perforation after it has been forced into the perforation for centering the work. This is preferably done by direct mechanical connec tions with the reciprocating head mecha- `-nism of the punch. As seen particularly in Figs. 10 and 11, the finder pin may be4 provided with a slot 80 adapted to receive the outer end of a horizontally disposed arm 81, the upper end of the slot being adjacent t the upper side of the arm after the finder pin has been forced into a templet perforation, Arm 81 is attached to a shaft 82, rotatably mounted in bracket 68, andi having attached to it an u wardly extending arm 83. As seen particularly in Figs.' 4 and 5, punch shaft 36 has attached to it punched a cam 84, on which rests a roller 85 attached to an arm 86 of a bell-crank lever pivoted as at.87 to av bracket 88A attached to the unch frame. The other arm 89 of this ell-crank lever is connected by meansof a a rod 90 to arm 83 of the finder-pin releasing member. VThe arrangement here is such that the projecting portion of cam 84 raises arm 86 of the bell-crank lever, which, t-hrou h its arm 89, rod 90, arm 83, shaft 82 an arm 81 raises the finder pin. Cam 84 is so positioned on shaft 36 that this withdrawal of the finder pin takes place substantially simultaneously with the u ward movement of the reci rocating hea. A workman may then imme iatel move-the work support to move the temp et so that when the finder pin is again released its lower end will not vbe in yregistration or partial re istration with the perforation rom whic it was withdrawn.

The machine also includes provision for breaking the circuit through the electromagnet so that clutch-controlling pin 47' (Figs. 6 and 15) may be released to engage cam 48 of clutch member 40. For this purpose the outer end of punch shaft36 may,

as shown in Fig. 4, be provided with a sectered the work, arm 92 is lowered to break contact between contactors 93 and 94, and

accordingly break the' circuit through the electro-magnet.

The large majority of holes required to be punchedin structural lates or similar blanks are of the same size, and iii this embodiment of the invention such holes are by punch 38, and the final positionin of the platesfor such punching is efecte by finder pin 64 in the manner explained. Occasionally, however, it is necessary to rovide a blank with a few odd holes of a di erent size, and for this purpose the unching head is provided with punch 39.

,o center the blank for punching the odd holes and to control the operation of the two punching tools, there is preferably provide' a second, and manually operable, finder pin having suitable connections with gags arranged in the punch holders.

As seen in Figs. 4 and 7, a manually controlled finder lpin 100 is attached tor an arm 101 pivoted t rough a link 102 to finderpin frame 62. The outer end of arm 101 workman lstanding on platform 33, and its are connected to ga inner end is connected throu h a link 103 and an arm 104 to a rock sha 105 extending from frame 62 to a bracket 106 attached to punch frame 5. Attached to shaft 105 there are a air of arms 107 and 108 Figs. 3 and 6) w ich, through links 109 an 110,

111 and 112, respectively, for control ing the o ration of punches 38 and 39. Normalll t e inner end of arm 101 is held downwar ly by a spring 113 (Fig. 7) so as to hold ga 111 inwardly, gag 112 outwardly, and iin er pin 101 out of engagement with the templet. In such positions of these gags the downward movement of reciprocating head 37 causes punching tool 38 to perforate a. blank and permits punching tool 39 tomove upwardly in its holder. When it is desired to punch an odd sized hole by punch 39, the position of the blank is fixed y depressingA finder pin 100 through lowering the outer end of arm 101. This causes shaft 105 to rock, and its rocking reverses the position of the gags, bringing punch 39 into operation and permitting punch 38 to be idle. The releasing ofaim 101 permits spring 113 to operate upon its inner end to move such end downwardly and thereby cause shaft 105 to rock in the opposite direction to reverse the ga s.

To prevent the operation of finder pin 64 durin the punching of odd holes, it may be held a ove tenplet 63 by means of a suitable latch 114( ig. 4) ivota'lly attached to bracket 68 and adapte to engage a pin 115 attached to an arm 116 connected to arm 83. If desired, finder pin 64 may be held upwardly merely by the workman pressing downwardly upon arm 116 without using latch 114.

For the punching of odd holes, as well as for any other reason that may arise during the punching operation, provision is made to manually close the circuit through the electro-magnet. This may be conveniently done by mounting a foot-operated electric switch 120 (Figs. 3, 7 and 16) on operators platform 33. This switch controls through conductors 117 and 118, a short circuit through electro-magnet coil 56 in the manner plainly indicated in Fig. 16.

In the o eration of the whole machine illustrated ierein, a templet 63 is placed upon frame 4 and clamped to carriage 13 by means of the clamping jaws 16. A late to be punched may then be slid lateral y upon roller 7 of frame 4 and similarly clam ed to carriage 13 in the proper position with relation to the templet. A workman standing on platform 33 ma turn operating wheels 25 and 32 to move rame 4 upon table 1 and carriage 13 upon frame 4 to bring a templet perforation in artial registration with finder in 64.` Tiie movement of the frame upon the table is effected through shaft 22 and inions 33, which are attached to it and whic engage racks 34 on the end standards templet, partially enters the perforation with the result that electric contactor 66 borne by the pin engages fixed electric contactor 67 yand closes the circuit through the electro-magnet. In thisstage of the operation of the machine, contactor 93 is in engagement with contactor 94 as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 16; This closing of the circuit through the electro-ma et energizes the magnet, with the result t at its armature 55 is raised to perform the double operation of permitting clutch member 40 to engage clutch member 41, and of rocking shaft 60. The connections from armature 55 for releasing clutcli member 40 are through rod 54, lever 53, link 52, arm 51, shaft 50, arm 49 and pin 47, the pin being withdrawn from engagement with cam 48 of clutch member 40 by the upward movement of the magnetarmat-ure. The connections from armature 55 for rocking shaft'60 are through bell-crank lever 57, link 58 and arm 59 attached to this shaft. The rocking of this shaft is effective throu h arms 75, 73 and 72 and sleeve 71 to force t e finder pin into the templet perforation for centering the work in proper punching position.

As the reciprocatin head 37 of the punch rises after the punc ing operation, finder in 64 is withdrawn from the templet peroration, so that the work support may be moved before the finder pin is released to bear upon the templet. The connections for withdrawing the finder pin are through cam 84 attached to unch shaft 36, bellciank lever 86, 89, ro 90, arm'83, shaft 82 and arm 84, which engages the finder in through its slot 80. After the clutch ias been thrown to cause unch shaft 36 to rotate, the circuit is bro en through the electro-magnet by contactor 93 moving away from contactor 94. This deener izes the magnet so that the clutch may e withdrawn, and also to release the downward pressure exerted on finder pin 64.

For punching odd holes, manually voperable nder pin 100- is lowered into a templet perforation by depressing arm 101, which, through arm 104, shaft 105 and links 109 and 110 reverses the gags 111 and 112 of punches 38 and 39.

According to the provisions of the atent statute, I have explained the princip e and operation of my invention and have described it fully in connection with the illustrative embodiment of the invention, which is the best known to me at the present time.

:armena- However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced by yother forms of construction than that particularl-y illustrated and described, and that various features of the invention may be practiced without other features. 1

I claim:

1. The combination with a metal perforating machine, ofv a universally movable temlet and work support comprising a table, a rame mounted on said table for movements to and from said machine and provided with a pluralityr of blank-supporting rollers, and

a carriage mounted upon one side of said frame for movements at right angles to those of the frame, said carriage being provided at a side thereof with clam s for engaging one side of a blank otherwlse resting freely`upon said frame rollers.

2. The combination with a metal perforatin; machine, of a universally movable temp et and work support comprlsing a stationary table, a frame mounted on sald table for movements to and from said machine i and rovided with a plurality of blankand temp et supporting rollers, and a carriage mounted upon one side of said frame for movements at right angles to those of the frame, said carnage being provided at a ,side thereofwith. a pluralit of clamps for engaging one side o a blan and of a templet, both the blank and'templet votherwise restin freely upon the said frame rollers.

3. he combination with a metal perforating machine, of a universally movable templet and work supportcomprlsing a stationary table, a frame mounted on said table for movements to and from said machine and rovided with a plurality of blank and templlet supporting rollers each extendin from one to the other side of the frame, an a carriage mounted upon one side of said frame for movements at right angles to those of the frame, said carriage being provided at a side thereof with clamps for engaging one side of a blank and one side of a templet both resting freely upon said frame rollers.

4. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a movable work support provided with means for attaching to it a blank to be perforated and a `perforated templet, a finder pin supported for movement toward a face of said templet; and means, rendered effective by partial entry of said ypin into a templet perforation, for forcing the pin further into thel perforation to move .the work su port so that a blank attached to it is broug t-to proper position for r perforation by said machine.

5. The combination with a metal perforating machine,ofa movable work support rovided with means for attaching to it a lank to -be perforated and av perforated templet, a finder pin normally urged toward and into bearing contact with a face of said templet; and means, rendered effective upon partial entry of said pin into atem let perforation, for forcing the pin furt er into the perforation tomove the' work support so that av blank attached to it. is brought to proper position for perforation by said machine.

6. The combination with a metal perfo- Arating machine, of a movable work support ovl ed with means for attaching to 1t a lank to be erforatcd and a perforated templet, a iin er pin above said templet and resting' upon its upper face; and means, renderedfeiective by partial entry of said pin into a templet perforation, for forcing the pin further into the perforation to move the work support to blank-centering position.

7. The combination with a. metal perforatin machine, of a movable work support provl ed with means for attaching to it a lank to be perforated and a perforated templet, a finder pin mountedv for longitudinal movement above said tem let and having its lower end bearing under garce of gravity upon the u per face of the templet; and means, ren ered effective' by partial entry of said plin into a templet perforation for forcing t epin further into the erforation to move the work support to blan centering position. f

8. The combination with a metal perforatinv machine, of a movable work support rovided with means for attaching to it a lank to be dperforated and a perforated templet, a fin er pin freely movable towards said templet andbearing upon aface thoreof, a prime mover connected to said in for moving it; and means, rendered efiectlvc upoleipartial'entry of the pin into a templet p oration, to cause' said prime mover to force the-pin further into the perforation to move the work support to blank-centering l position.

9. The combination with a metal perfo` rating machine, ofvav movable work support provided with means for attaching to it a blank to be perforated anda perforated templet, a finder pin supported for move- 'ment towards said templet and having a provided with means for attaching to it a,

blank to be perforated land va perforated templet, a finder pin freely supported for movement towards said templet 'and provided with an electric contacter movable with it, a fixed contacter lying in the path los Y' of movement of said pin contractor, and an electro-magnet in circuit with said contactors and having a movable element operatively connected to said pin for moving it, said circuit beingclosed through said eontactors and electro-magnet upon partial movement of said pin into a templet perforation, and said magnet then being effective to force said pin further into the perforation and to thereby move the work support to blank-centering position.

11. The combination with a lnetal perforating machine, of a movable work support provided with means for attaching to it a blank to be perforated and a perforated templet, a finder pin freely supported above said templet for movement toward it and provided with an electric contacter movable With the pin, a fixed contacter lying in the path of movement of said pin contacter, an electro-magnet having a coil in circuit with said contactors and having an armature operatively connected to said pin for moving it, said circuit being closed through said 'contacter and electro-magnet coil upon partial movement of said pin into a templet perforation, and said electro-magnet then eing effective to force said pin further into the perforation and t0 thereby move the Work support to blank-centering position.

l2. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a movable work support provided with mea-ns for attaching toit a blank to be perforated and a perforated templet, a fixed frame adjacent to a templet borne by said support, aY finder pin mounted for longitudinal movement towards said templet and having an end bearing upon the face of the templet, and means rendered effective by partlal entry of said pin into a templet perforation for forcing the pin further into the perforation to move the work support so that a blank attached to it is brought to proper position for perforation by said machine.

1?. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a movable work support provided with means for attaching to it a bla-nk to be perforated and a perforated templet, a fixed frame adjacent to a templet borne by said support, a finder pin mounted for longitudinal movement on said frame and having its end bearing upon a face of said templet, finder pin engaging means permitting free movement of the finder pin into a templet perforation, a prime mover operatively connected to said engaging means, and means rendered effective by partial entry of said pin into a templet perforation for causing saidprime mover through its connection to said pin to force the pin fur'- ther into the perforation to move the work support to blank-centering position.

14. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a universally movable Work support comprising a table, a frame mounted on saidtable for movements to and from `said machine., -a carriage mounted on said frame for movements at right angles to those of the frame and provided with means for attaching a blank and a perforated templet to it; a finder pin mounted for movement toward a face of'a templet at tached to said carriage; and means, rendered effective by partial entry of said pin into a templet perforation, for forcing the pin further into the perforation to move the work support to blank-centering position after said support has been otherwise moved nearly to such position.

l5. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a universally movable templet and work support comprising a table, a frame mounted on said table for movements to and from said machine, a carriage mounted upon one side of said frame for movements at right angles to those of the frame and provided with means for engagingla blank and a perforated templet, a finder pin arranged above a perforated templet attached to said carriage and longitudinally movable towards said templet, said finder pin being provided with an electric contactor movable with it and having a tapered end bearing upon the upper face of said templet, a fixed contacter lying in the path of movement of said pin contactor, an electro-magnet in circuit with said contactors and having a movable element operatively connected to said pin for moving it, said circuit being closed through said contactors and electro-magnet upon partial movement ofsajd pin into a templet perforation, and said magnet being effective to force said pin further into the perforation and to thereby move the work support to blank-centering position.

16. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a universally movable Work support provided with means for attaching to it a blank to be perforated and a perforated templet, a finder pin mounted for longitudinal movement above the templet and having its lower end normally urged toward and bearing upon the upper face of the templet; means, rendered effective upon partial entry of said pin into a templet perforation, for forcing the pin further into the perforation to move the work support, and means for holding the finder pin against movement into a templet perforation.

17. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a movable work suvport provided with means for attaching to it a blank to be perforated and a perforated templet, a finder pin freely supported for movement toward saidtemplet and rovided with an electric contacter, a fixed) electric contacter lying in the path of movement of said pin contacter, an electro-magnet in circuit with said coutactors and having a movable element, a yielding connection between sald movable element of the electro-magnet and said pin for moving the latter in response to the movement of the former, said circuit being closed through said contactors and magnet upon partial movement of said pm 1nto a templet perforation, and said magnet then being effective for forcing said pin into the perforation and to thereby move tthe work support to blank-centering posilon.

18. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a movable work support provided with means for attaching to it a blank to be perforated and a perforated templet, a frame adjacent to a templet attached to said support, a finder pin mounted for longitudinal movement insaid frame and provided with a tapered end bearing upon the upper face of the templet, an electric contactor attached to and movable with said finder pin, a fixed electric contacter lying in the path of movement of said pin contactor, an electro-magnet havin@ a coil in circuit with said contactors and aving a movable armature, a yielding'` connection between said armature and said pin for moving the latter in response to the movement of the former, said circuit being closed through said contactors and electro-magnet coil upon partial movement of said pin into a templet perforation, and said armature then being elfective to force said pin further into said perforation and to thereby move the work -support so that a blank attached to the work support is brought to proper position for perforation by said machine.y

19. The combination of a metal punching machinel having a reciprocating head, a clutch for controlling the reciprocation of said head, power mechanism for moving said clutch, a movable support provided with means for attaching to it a blank to be punched and a templet, and means operated by said clutch-moving mechanism and cooperating with said templet for moving said support to place said blank in proper punching position after said support has been otherwise moved to bring the blank close to proper punching position.

20. The combination of a metal punching machine having a reciprocating head, a clutch for controlling the reciprocation of said head, lneans for moving said clutch, a movable support provided with means for attaching to 1t a blank to be punched and a perforated templet, a finder pin supported for free movement toward saidtemplet and having an end bearing upon a face of the templet, connections between said clutch moving means and said pin for causing the former to move the latter, and means rendered effective by partial entry of said pin' into a temple,t perforation to set -said clutch moving means in operation, wherebv said clutch is thrown' and said pin forced further into the templet perforation.

21. The combination of a metal punching machine 'having a. reciprocating head, a clutch for controlling the reciprocation of said head, an electro-magnet having a movable element attached to said clutch for operating it, a movable support provided with means for attaching to it va blank to be punched and a perforated templet, a, finder pin supported for free movement toward said templet and havin an end bearing upon a face of the templt, connections between said movaable magnet element and said pin for causing the1 former to move the latter, an electrlc circuit through said magnet, and means for closing said circuit rendered eiective when said pin partially enters a perforation in said templet.

22. The combination of a metal punching machine having a reciprocating head, a clutch for controlling the reciprocation of said head, an electro-magnet havin a movable armature attached to said clutc for operating it, a universally movable sup ort provided with means for'attaching to 1t a.

lank to be punched and a erforated templet, a finder pin mounted or longitudinal movement above and havin its end restin upon the upper face of said templet, sai finder pin being provided with an electric 4contactor movable with the pin, a fixed electric contacter lying in the path of movement of said pin contactor, an electric circuit through said contactors and said magnet, and connections between said magnet armature and said pin for causing the former to move the latter, said electro-magnet being energized by the closing of said circuit when said pin artially enters a perforation in said temp et.

23. The combination of a metal punching machine having a reciprocating head, means for controllin the reciprocation of said head, a. mova le support provided with means for attaching to it a blank and a templet, means for engaging said templet and through such engagement moving said support to place said lank in proper punching position after said support has been otherwise moved to bring the blank close to proper unching position, means for operatlng sai head-controlling means and said support-moving means, and means coordinated with the reciprocation of sa1d head for releasing said templet-engaging means.

24. The combination of a metal punching machine having a reciprocating head, a clutch for controlling the reciprocatlon of said head, means for moving said clutch2 a universally movable support provided with means for attaching to it a blank and a templet, a finder pin supported for f ree movement toward said templet and havmg so l an end bearing upon a face of the templet, connections between said clutch-moving means and said pin for causing the former to move the latter, means rendered effective by partial entry of said pin into a ternplet perforation to set said clutch-moving means in operation, whereby said clutch is thrown and said pin forced further into the templet perforation, and means coordinated with the reci )roca-tion of said head for withdrawing sai pin from the templet perforation. f

25. The combination of a metal unching machine having a reciprocating lead, an electro-magnet having a movable. element attached to said clutch for operating it, a movable support provided wlth means for attaching to it a blank to be punched and a perforated templet, a finder pin mounted above said tem let for free longitudinal movement toward the templet and having its end bearing upon the upper face of the templet, connections between said movable magnet element and said pin for causing the former to move the latter, means for closing said vcircuit rendered effective when said pin partially enters a perforation in said templet, and connections extending between said head and said finder pin for removing the latter from said templet by and upon the reciprocation of the head.

26. The combination of a metal punching machine having a reciprocating head, means for controlling the reciprocation of said head, a universally movable support provided with means for attaching to it a blank and a templet, a finder pin for engaging said templet, connections between said nder pin and said head-controlling means for moving the former by the latter, and connections between said reciprocating head and finder pin for releasing the latter from engagement with a templet perforation.

27. In a punching machine, the combination of a punch havlng a reciprocating head vequipped with a pair of punching tools, a

movable templet and work support, a pair of finder pins arranged to cooperate with a templet borne by sa1d support, and connections extending from one of said pins to said tools whereby a movement of one of the pins `into engagement with a templet borne by said support renders one of the tools operative and the other inoperative.

28. In a punching machine, the combination of a punch havin a reciprocating head, a clutch for control ing the reci rocation of said head, an electro-magnet aving a movable element for operating said clutch, a movable support provided with means for attaching a blank and a perforate templet to it, a finder pin mounted for free movement toward and having an end bearing upon a templet attached to said support, connections extending from said movable magnet ele-ment to said pin for causing the former to force the pin into a templet `perforation, an electric circuit through said magnet, means efective upon partial entry clamps secured to said carria e for engaging one side of a blank, said c amps each including a resilient element permitting a blank engaged by them to rest freely upon said frame rollers. Y

30. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a universally movable templet and work support comprising a stationary table; a frame mounted on said i table for movements to and from said machine and provided with a plurality of blank supporting rollers, a carriage mounted on one side of said frame for movements at right angles to those of the frame; and blank-engaging clamps each including a block attached to said carriage, clamping members for engaging a blank and a resilient plate connecting said block to said clamping members and permitting an engaged blank to rest freely upon said frame rollers.

31. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a universally movable templet and work support comprising a stationary table, a frame mounted on said table for movements to and from said machine land provided with a plurality of blank-supporting rollers, a carriage mounted upon one side of said frame for movements,

at right angles to those of the frame, said carriage bein provided with means for en gaging a blau t otherwise resting freely upon said frame rollers, and a reciprocable finder pin arranged above and cooperating with a templet borne by said frame to position a blank for perforatin it, 'two of said frame 'rollers being arrange adjacent to each other and one on each slde of the linc of reciprocation of said finder pin to firmly support said templet when said finder pin enters a perforation of the templet.

32. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a universallyl movable templet and work support comprisinnr a sta. tionary table, a frame mounted on sa1d table for movements to and from said machine and provided with a plurality of'blank-supportmg rollers, a carriage mounted upon one side of said frame for movements at right angles to those of the frame, said carriage bein provided with means for engaging a blan otherwise resting freely upon said frame rollers, a reciprocable finder pin arranged above and cooperating with a templet borne by said frame to position a blanlrv for perforating it, two of said frame rollers being arranged adjacent to each other and one on each side of the line of reciprocation of said finder pin to firmly support said templet when said finder pin enters a perforation of the templet, and means for adjusting the vertical position of said two frame rollers.

33. The combination with a metal perforating machine, of a universally movable templet and work support comprising a table, a frame mounted on said table for movements to and from said machine and provided with a plurality of blank-supporting rollers, a carriage mounted upon one side of said frame vfor movements at right angles to those of the frame, and clamps borne b said carriage for adjustment longitudinal y thereof and adapted to enga one side of a blank otherwise resting free y upon said frame rollers.

In testimony whereof I sign my name.

GEORGE P. THOMAS. 

